By Aggrey Baba
[Veteran politician says he still has the energy to lead, as West Nile MPs defend his legacy against online attacks]
Residents of Adjumani have thrown their full support behind the ageing political giant, Gen. Moses Ali, telling critics to back off.
This comes merely a week after the aged General, legislator’ declaration to contest again in 2026.
Internet corridors were set ablaze after it emerged that the Second Deputy Prime Minister and Deputy Leader of Government Business in Parliament, Gen Moses Ali, 86, will be seeking another term come.
Many netizens are questioning why a man who has been in active politics since the days of Idi Amin would not take a bow and retire honorably, with some even going as far as mocking his age, and others asking whether his health could allow him to perform legislative duties.
But like a dry banana leaf that rustles loudly but can’t start a fire, the online critics are not shaking his constituents in Adjumani, and on the ground, the old General still enjoys strong support.
Fellow leaders from West Nile have praised the long-time servant, describing him as a pillar of the region. In a symbolic statement that echoed the mood of many locals, Maracha County MP, Hon. Denis Lee Oguzu, called Ali ‘the granary of the region’, that nobody wants to burn down.
“I don’t know what the doctors have advised, and how it will impact his candidature. However, he has made a useful contribution”
While attending the celebration of 23 years of peace in West Nile, Yumbe district on Saturday, the man who has been in power since Amin’s regime made it clear, that he still has stamina, and can still represent his people legislatively.
Speaking to the crowd, the general was clear. “I still have the energy to serve. I am born to lead,” he said, drawing cheers from supporters and a fresh round of online mockery from those who felt otherwise.
This is not the first time Ali is fending off pressure to retire. In 2023, while addressing voters in Adjumani West, he told off his critics.
[Elections are held every five years in Uganda. I will contest again and if you are not happy, it is up to you,” he said, adding that anyone is free to contest against him.
This is a man who served in Amin’s government and later became one of the few to transition into leadership under Museveni. He has repeatedly said that he has never blocked anyone from standing against him.
“Anyone is allowed to contest against me.”
Despite his strongman image, the old lion hasn’t been spared from public embarrassment. In a past notable incident captured on live TV, Ali appeared to doze off during a parliamentary session, prompting a flurry of jokes and memes online.
In another moment, captured at a high-profile state function, Ali struggled to rise from his seat and had to be assisted by aides, something critics jumped on to mock his physical condition.
A few years ago, he reportedly traveled abroad for medical treatment, and whispers around Parliament began to suggest he was too frail for politics. But each time the whispers start, Ali bounces back, firmer, louder, and more determined.
Whether one loves or hates him, there’s no denying, that the experienced leader is a towering figure in Uganda’s political history.
A retired general, a former rebel, a former Finance Minister, and a current top government official, his catalogue reads like the script of a gripping drama.
[When the drumbeat changes, the dancer must adjust]. And the question on everyone’s lips is: Will the 2026 elections deliver another term for the general, or is the tide finally turning? For now, Adjumani West says he’s still their man, bringing the old African saying, “You don’t throw away the hoe because the handle has cracks,” to life. (For comments on this story, get back to us on 0705579994 [WhatsApp line], 0779411734 & 041 4674611 or email us at mulengeranews@gmail.com).
